Faculty of Arts

PHIL 727

Ethics 2

Please note: this is archived course information from 2018 for PHIL 727.

Description

Ethical Naturalism is a view normally ascribed to Aristotle and, more recently, to Philippa Foot. It may – or may not – be given support by modern evolutionary theory and primatology. We will examine Foot's attempt to ground ethics (in some sense) in human nature, and recent philosophical (not religious) objections to the idea of doing so. Authors to be studied include, apart from Foot, Michael Thompson, Hursthouse, McDowell and Nussbaum and various articles analysing and/or criticising their views. Prescribed text: Philippa Foot Natural Goodness, OUP 2001.